TOPIC 2: AGGREGATES material (cement).

• Hence a mixture of coarse and fine aggregate

AGGREGATES - means a mass of is used in concrete to avoid both these
crushed stone, gravel, sand, etc, problems.
predominantly composed of individual • Aggregates constitute 75% to 85% of the
particles. volume and 92% to 96% of the mass. The
asphalt cement acts as a binder to hold the
3 Main Uses of Aggregated in Civil aggregates together, but does not have
Engineering enough strength to lock the aggregate
particles into position.
1. As a Load Bearing Material • As a result, the strength and stability of
• an underlying material for foundations and asphalt concrete depends mostly on
pavements interparticle friction between the aggregates
• used to resist the overall (static as well as and, to a limited extent, on the binder.
dynamic) load,
• to distribute the load properly to the
supporting ground GENERAL SIZE CHARACTERISTICS OG
• and to drain the water off the surface AGGREGATES
Fine aggregates
2. As a Filling Material
• used for economy, • Sand and/or crushed stone
• reduce shrinkage and cracks • < 4.75 mm sieve (No. 4).
• and to strengthen the structure Coarse aggregates
• used as riprap for erosion protection
• Gravel and crushed stone
3. As an Infiltrating Material • > 4.75 mm sieve (No. 4).
• used in water filtration ➢ A 4.75 mm sieve has openings equal to 4.75
• and sewage treatment processes mm between the sieve wires. A No. 4 sieve
has four openings per linear each
• ingredients in portland cement and asphalt
concretes.
SOURCES

1. Natural sources for aggregates include

gravel pits, river run deposits, and rock
quarries.
• Gravel comes from pits and river deposits
• Crushed stones result of processing rocks
from quarries.
• Usually, gravel deposits must also be
crushed to obtain the needed size
distribution, shape, and texture
USES OF AGGREGATE IN PORTLAND
CEMENT CONCRETE 2. Manufactured aggregates can use slag
waste from iron and steel mills and
• Increases the volume of concrete, thus expanded shale and clays to produce
reduces the cost. Aggregates account for 60- lightweight aggregates.
75% of the volume of concrete and 79-85% • Heavyweight concrete, used for radiation
weight of PCC. shields, can use steel slag and bearings
• To provide a rigid structure. for the aggregate.
• To reduce the shrinkage and cracking. • Lightweight concrete used for insulation.
• Concrete aggregate is used in many e.i Styrofoam beads as aggregate
structures and substructures e.g. different • Natural lightweight aggregates include
elements of a Building, bridges, foundations. pumice, scoria, volcanic cinders, tuff, and
• The smaller the aggregate size the greater its diatomite.
surface area and the more binding material TYPES OF AGGREGATES
(cement) will be required, resulting in a higher
cost. 1. Geological
• The greater the aggregate size the larger will 2. Physical
be the voids, resulting in wastage of binding 3. Chemical
1. Geological Classification (ii) Unstratified Rocks:
• These rocks are not stratified.
(i) Igneous Rocks: They possess crystalline and
• These rocks are formed by cooling compact grains.
and solidifying of the rock masses • They cannot be split in to thin
from their molten magmatic condition slab; example Granite, trap,
of the material of the earth. marble etc.
• Generally igneous rocks are strong
and durable. (iii) Foliated Rocks:
• Granite, trap and basalt are the rocks • These rocks have a tendency
belonging to this category. Granites to split along a definite
are formed by slow cooling of the lava direction only.
under thick cover on the top. Hence • The direction need not be
they have crystalline surface. The parallel to each other as in
cooling of lava at the top surface of case of stratified rocks.
earth results into non-crystalline and • This type of structure is very
glassy texture. common in case of
metamorphic rocks.
(ii) Sedimentary Rocks:
• Due to weathering action of water, 3. Chemical Classification
wind and frost existing rocks
disintegrates. The disintegrated (i) Silicious Rocks:
material is carried by wind (Aeolian) • The main content of these rocks is silica.
and water (Alluvial). • They are hard and durable.
• Flowing water deposits its suspended • Examples of such rocks are granite, trap,
materials at some points of obstacles sand stones etc.
to its flow. These deposited layers of
materials get consolidated under (ii) Argillaceous Rocks:
pressure and by heat. Chemical • The main constituent of these rocks is
agents also contribute to the argil i.e., clay.
cementing of the deposits. • These stones are hard and durable but
• The rocks thus formed are more they are brittle.
uniform, fine grained and compact in • They cannot withstand shock. Slates and
their nature. They represent a bedded laterites are examples of this type of
or stratified structure in general. These rocks.
are sand stones, lime stones, mud
stones etc. (iii) Calcareous Rocks:
• The main constituent of these rocks is
(iii) Metamorphic Rocks: calcium carbonate.
• Previously formed igneous and • Limestone is a calcareous rock of
sedimentary rocks undergo changes due sedimentary origin while marble is a
to metamorphic action of pressure and calcareous rock of metamorphic origin.
internal heat.
• For example due to metamorphic action
granite becomes greisses, trap and basalt REMEMBER:
change to schist and laterite, lime stone • Aggregates should be clean and able to
changes to marble, sand stone becomes bond to the cement paste. If materials
quartzite and mud stone becomes slate. such as clay are stuck to the aggregate
surface cement paste will not bond to the
2. Physical Classification
stone and the strength of the mix will be
compromised.
(i) Stratified Rocks:
• Aggregate should not have excessive dust
• These rocks are having layered structure.
coatings, which can reduce the bond
They possess planes of stratification or
between cement and stones and increase
cleavage.
water demand.
• They can be easily split along these
• Other undesirable ingredients include
planes.
pyrite, coal and sulphate. If pyrite is in
• Sand stones, lime stones, slate etc.
aggregate it can decompose and this
results in staining of the concrete surface.
• Coal and lignite may swell during the life
of a structure and they sometimes
decompose; this can leave voids in the
concrete.
• Some aggregates are susceptible to alkali
aggregate reaction. These aggregates
contain particular silicates which can react
with the alkalis produced when cement
hydrates.
• Fortunately, this occurrence is rare, but
when it occurs, because the reaction is
expansive, the concrete can spall and
crack.